Tina Fey Says, "Bitch Is The New Black." Word!

How Gay Am I?

Well, let’s just say that I spent Saturday evening watching the Miss America Pageant and the free skate portion of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Championships. At one point, my (gay) friend suggested that we watch something else. I almost kicked him out of my apartment.



I’ve never been a huge fan of the Miss America franchise. It always seemed out of touch with the times. Well, things seem to be changing. The pageant was picked up by TLC and there’s even a Miss America reality show. That’s a very smart marketing scheme. The pageant was quite unusual. Some of the women even did push-ups on stage—very weird but kind of entertaining. Anyway, Kirsten Haglund (pictured above), the delegate from Michigan, won the Miss America crown. Good for her.

Now, let’s talk about figure skating. As some of you may know, I love everything about it. And my favorite American figure skater is the one and only Sasha Cohen; I’m sure you already knew that. So, last night, the defending U.S. National champion, Kimmie Meissner, was unable to outperform her younger rivals. In fact, she finished a disappointing 7th. Ashley Wagner, though lacking speed and grace, hit most of her jumps. Rachel Flatt delivered a great performance and finished 2nd. But the night belonged to Mirai Nagasu. This talented young lady beat 20 skaters for the National title—an impressive feat.



The future of U.S. women’s figure skating seems bright. And part of that optimism is due to a young girl named Caroline Zhang. She didn’t win the National title, but she is one to watch. She reminds me of Sasha Cohen. Beautiful!

Notes On Entertainment

Ellen Page rocks!
Yep, it’s true. I heart that girl. As most of you probably know, she is now officially an Oscar-nominated actor. Isn’t that just wonderful? I had an interesting discussion with a friend yesterday, and my friend strongly believes that the movie Juno is overrated. Well, there may be some truth to that, but I prefer to focus on the positive. I thought Juno was great. I don’t care if people call it a “chick flick.” Whatever! This film presented an interesting (female) character that has to deal with an unexpected pregnancy. Ellen was perfect as Juno MacGuff. There was something fresh and exciting about this film. I’m so glad the critics (and America) embraced this film with so much gusto.

Cloverfield delivered!
I was completely satisfied after watching this film last week. J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Drew Goddard created an impressive movie that lived up to my expectations. Cloverfield has
been described as “Godzilla meets The Blair Witch Project.” Yeah, that’s a fairly accurate statement, but that doesn’t take anything away from the film. It was quite effective. Others have complained about the lack of information throughout the film. You know, it’s kind of annoying that some people expect everything to be explained to them. What are we? A collection of brainless tissue? This movie forces the audience to pay attention. I felt like an active participant throughout the movie, trying to make sense of the whole situation. That’s what things are like in the real world. When a natural disaster strikes, we don’t have a nicely written manual to refer to; we have to pay attention . . . if we want to survive.



An untimely death.
When I learned of Heath Ledger’s passing, I was at a loss for words. To be honest, I didn’t quite believe it at first. He was so young and talented. It’s a real shame, and he will be missed by his fans. His ex-wife’s father released a statement about Heath that I found quite touching. He said,

I think [poet] Tennyson got it right in the poem when he described someone as having died at a young age but burning the candles at both ends, and oh what a beautiful flame he made, that was Heath, what a beautiful flame he made and a great talent.

My heart goes out to his family and friends.

The Problem With Perez

Sometimes the gay media pisses me off in a major way. What did they do now? Well, Out.com recently recognized Perez Hilton as one of the most influential gay people in this country. He even got the royal treatment by the folks at Out.com (check out the following picture), and that's what I object to.



Now, in all fairness to Mr. Lavandeira (aka Perez Hilton), I have to acknowledge that his blog, Perezhilton.com, is one of the most popular blogs on the web. Is he influential? Well, I'll give him some credit. He gets a lot of attention from the main stream media. He was on the view and he appears on MTV and other popular news and entertainment outlets on a regular basis. So, from a very objective perspective, I'd say that he is influential. But does that mean he should be honored by the gay media?

Funny thing is, he is every activist's dream. He's out, proud, and successful. Oh, but it gets better. The man doesn't hide his sexuality. Many have seen a side of Perez Hilton that's too disgusting to describe on this blog. My point is: he is not asexual. I read somewhere that's he's getting his own show. That's impressive. So, should we kiss his ass? I don't think so. I contend that he is not an asset to the LGBT community. I'm sorry, but simply being out and proud shouldn't be some sort of badge of honor. I think it's great that's he's out. It's always wonderful to see someone who's comfortable with his or her sexuality, but we shouldn't just shower someone with praise for being out. He is not a good role model for LGBT people in this (or any) country. He's a smart internet personality. Good for him, but why does the gay media have to jump on the "I love Perez" band wagon.

I'm fully aware that Perez is a part of our community, whether we like it or not. The LGBT community is not a monolith. We are a very diverse group of people, and Perez will always have a place in our community. My beef is with the gay media and the writers who work for and/or are associated with them. These individuals often serve as representatives of the entire LGBT community. And that's a shame. They only represent a segment of our community. It's interesting that Perez Hilton is Hispanic American but contributes nothing significant to the plight of gay men and Lesbians of Hispanic descent. I'm not saying Perez is obligated to do anything; I'm just pointing out that he's just a successful American blogger who has nothing meaningful to contribute to any cause. Where are other gay people of color? Don't they exist? They have a very different perspective that's rarely heard. How about gay people who can't be out for various reasons. This large group of gay men and lesbians may not be out to the world, but they are on the internet consuming gay culture. They are a part of our community.

Congratulations, Hung

Wow, the person I was rooting for actually won. That rarely happens (see Sasha Cohen). Anyway, congratulations, Hung. Your family must be so proud. And I have to say, Dale really did save the best for last. Unfortunately, Casey didn't deliver, but, as she herself pointed out, she prepared some great dishes throughout the competition and kicked ass in the last few episodes. It's a shame she couldn't deliver when it really mattered.

It Sucks To Be A Lion: Bill O'Reilly & The Proper Use of Stereotypes

Ok, if you love Bill O'Reilly, this post is not for you. Now, let the bashing begin. Bill never ceases to amaze (and horrify) me. The man is clearly intelligent, but his inability (or refusal) to even consider alternative perspectives is scary. Why does that scare me? Well, if an intelligent man like Bill refuses to even listen to dissenting opinions, then there's no hope for the many men and women who worship the ground he walks on. And that, my friends, is a very scary thought.

So, here's the issue. A few days ago, Mr. O'Reilly made some interesting comments on his radio show. He talked about having dinner with Rev. Al Sharpton at a place called Sylvia's, a restaurant in Harlem that is owned and operated by African-Americans. Most of the patrons are also African-American. Bill was shocked that African-Americans weren't acting--you know--crazy! Nothing escaped Bill's sharp eye. Specifically, he said,

I couldn't get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia's restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City . . . There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M-Fer, I want more iced tea . . . There wasn't any kind of craziness at all.

Ok, I was speechless when I first read this report on the Media Matters for America website. The first thing that came to mind was, is this guy for real? In all fairness to Bill, his comments were not racist. I think most would agree. However, his comments are troubling because they may represent how the average American views Black people. Seriously, if you're surprised that (average) African-Americans actually act like average Americans, then you must be living in some sort of bubble. I've met African-Americans who are educators, business owners, artists, writers, and so on. Do they not exist in New York City metropolitan area? Hm, maybe I'm the one who's crazy. It's possible that I just imagined meeting well-behaved African-Americans. Maybe my junior high school principal, Mrs. Watson, was a figment of my imagination. How about my 7th grade science teacher, Mr. Anderson? He must have been a magnificent apparition that happened to know the periodic table of elements. These wonderful individuals helped mold me into the person I am today.

The sad reality is that Mr. O'Reilly and others like him are doing what many of us do on a daily basis--rely on stereotypes for various reasons. Yes, it's a cognitive phenomenon that requires very little brain power. Now, don't get me wrong; it can be very useful. For example, if I see a lion charging at me, I probably won't ask questions. I'll just run! I know, it sucks to be a lion; everyone immediately judges you. However, in contemporary American society, we have access to so much information and we live in a country that's economically and socially stable. All we have to do is open our eyes (and minds) and stop being lazy. Yes, many of us are lazy. We can't be bothered to learn a little more about people who aren't like us. Or, we sometimes do the opposite; we focus on an outgroup's negative traits.

So, when you see a woman acting hysterical. Stop and think. Ask a question or two. Maybe she's upset for a valid reason. Or maybe she's just had enough. Many women, in case you didn't know, have to work full-time to help support their families, and they're also expected to devote a lot of time to various household tasks. That's like having two jobs! So, before you judge any woman, please keep this little nugget of information in mind. Sure, women are generally more emotional than men, but they also have to put up with a lot of crap. There are many more examples, but I won't subject you to any more of my liberal musings. So, here's the take home message: America, please stop being lazy. Stereotypes should only be used on those rare occasions when your life and physical well-being are threatened. Give Ethnic Americans and other minorities a chance, they may surprise (and educate) you. Imagine that!

Congratulations, Salma

Ah, Salma Hayek. You and I have had an interesting relationship. There were times when I thought you were a brainless little tease. Women would kill to have your looks and curvaceous body. But then you did something quite unexpected. You produced and starred in the surprisingly good film Frida. It was a labor of love for you and everyone involved, and it showed. Now, you're a successful TV producer. You managed to create a hit comedy, Ugly Betty, against all odds. I mean, who knew Americans would respond so positively to a story you borrowed from a popular Latin American novela.

A few days ago, you gave birth to a lovely girl, Valentina Paloma Pinault. Congratulations! I really love your daughter's first name, and I also love the name Paloma. However, I don't think they go well together, but that's just me. Anyway, I wish you and your significant other, François-Henri Pinault, the very best. It was rumored that he had something to do with Tom Ford's decision to leave Gucci. Someone actually reported that Mr. Pinault refused to renew my beloved Tom's contract. But don't worry, Salma; let's forget about that and move on. Actually, we can discuss that later. Anyway, I've posted a little clip of you in a commercial for Campari. You are gorgeous!

The Media Giveth, The Media Taketh Away

Ok, I don't even know where to begin. This whole Britney debacle has been buzzing around the blogosphere for the past few days. It's old news, but there have been some new developments that we should consider. Even the popular Bravo bloggers Tom and Lorenzo blogged about Britney's unfortunate performance. Are the boys right? Is Britney's VMA performance going to destroy her career in the music industry? Who knows. This is the same industry that profited from the William Hung phenomenon and managed to get people to buy Paris Hilton CDs. I don't question it. It just is. So, Britney probably won't enjoy the level of success she achieved as a teenage pop diva years ago, but she'll probably be around for a while.

To be honest, I never understood the whole Britney phenomenon. Back in the day, she was worshipped by millions of fans around the world. Sure, she was hot, but she lacked the one thing that defines a real musical artist--talent! Yep, I couldn't understand her success. How could a girl with little talent dominate the music industry and popular culture the way Britney did years ago. Well, I think her success was due at least in part to the attention she received from the media. They were obsessed with her, discussing almost every aspect of her life on and off the stage. The media created Britney Speras. Well, now the tables have turned. The media types that declared Britney the queen of pop music years ago have now turned against her. And they delight in showing clips and images of Britney behaving badly.

Of course, you can't blame the media for Britney's unfortunate mistakes, but one can argue that they are at least partially responsible for creating our media obsessed culture. They, quite frankly, created Britney Spears. They also created Jennifer Lopez and the Spice Girls. In fact, I think Britney should have faded into obscurity just like many artists have done for decades. That's just the nature of the business. But, no! Viacom, MTV, and various other media outlets keep pushing Britney Spears on their young consumers. I blame the media for all of this mess.

I enjoyed some of her songs back in the day, but I am not a fan. I consider her little more than a superficial product of the entertainment industry. Ok, I will admit that I kind of feel sorry for her, but I'm not going to shed a tear for Ms. Spears. She's a very wealthy woman; she'll survive.

Fortunately, Britney has never been alone. She will always have the support of some members of the gay community. For example, Boy Shakira, an amateur drag queen, performed Hit Me Baby One More Time on America's Got Talent. It's very clear that Boy Shakira loves Brit.



And recently, the youtube phenomenon Chris Crocker defended Britney with a passion that one rarely sees expressed by sane individuals. Here's what Chris had to say about his favorite pop diva,



God, I love unstable gay men. I didn't think anyone could possibly top Boy Shakira, America's favorite amateur drag queen. Well, Chris' little outburst is certainly giving Boy Shakira a run for his money. Oh, and Chris is now getting a lot of (negative) attention for his little youtube rant. Fortunately, my beloved Seth Green has a few words for all you Chris Crocker haters.



American culture never ceases to amaze (and scare) me.

Youtube + Brain Fart + Beauty Queen = Comedic Gold

I’ve made it very clear that I love almost everything about pageants—the beautiful women, the nature of the competition, and the joy of finding that one delegate who can flawlessly recite a few lines from a pageant pattie handbook. Essentially, the crown is reserved for the gorgeous woman who can deliver a few lines without stuttering or sounding like a total ass. However, on rare occasions, you’ll have a woman like Chelsi Smith, a former Miss Universe from Texas, who is beyond amazing. Chelsi is best remembered as a beauty queen with brains.

Well, a few weeks ago, a young South Carolina beauty queen by the name of Lauren Caitlin Upton made headlines when she delivered an unintelligible answer to one of the final questions. Not surprisingly, she didn’t win the Miss Teen USA crown. I feel bad for her. It’s very stressful to be on stage and deliver a performance of a lifetime. She didn't deliver; the poor girl failed miserably.



Again, I am a huge supporter of beauty pageants. I’ve loved them for years. I can understand all the arguments against them—that they are sexist and disgusting to some people. However, from a very objective perspective, these pageants only serve to entertain.

My, how times have changed. Beauty queens have been delivering trite and sometimes incoherent final answers for decades; but now, thanks to the internet, people who don’t normally watch pageants have access to some of these displays of cognitive dysfunction. The following clips were all inspired by Lauren’s . . . what’s the phrase . . . brain fart? Yes, brain fart!

YouTube/CNN Presidential Debate & Community Counts

Well, Barack and Hillary both shined in last night's Democratic Presidential debate. And, according to CNN, various focus groups were more impressed with Barack's performance. He's certainly doing better than John Edwards. Things are finally getting a little more interesting. Visit Community Counts and let your voice be heard.

Crazy About Raúl

I'm sure most of you are watching the Tony Awards as I post this. Of course you are. How silly of me to suggest otherwise. It's about to end soon, actually. Anyway, the performances have been great so far. It kind of makes one envy those who live in the big apple--those lucky bastards. Well, I've always had my eye on one particular performer, Raúl Esparza. He lost the Tony Award for best performance by a leading actor in a musical to David Hyde Pierce. Now, even though I was kind of rooting for Raúl, I'm actually glad David won. He's such a good performer. However, this post is all about Raúl. I always enjoy seeing him perform on television; I haven't had the opportunity to see him perform live, which is a shame. Yes, this Cuban-American hunk is such a great talent. Below are a few pictures of Mr. Esparza and a little clip from the Broadway musical Company. I think I'm in love. Enjoy!

Link Fest: All Good Things Must Come To An End

The blogosphere is such a wonderful place. It’s a world full of ideas and various forms of self expression. Some blogs challenge you to think about important things like friendship, sacrifice, and intolerance. And some insanely prolific bloggers blog about . . . everything! One particular blogger, Samurai Frog, blogs about every topic imaginable—racism, television, and even the muppets. These are just four of my favorite blogs; for a complete list of my favorite blogs, check out “The IT List” section of the sidebar. Also check out the links listed under “Cinephiles;” you’ll find some great blogs there, too.

Anyway, as I was visiting my favorite blogs this afternoon, jumping from one post to another, I was shocked when I came across the most recent post on Cinemarati, a community of bloggers for film commentary. Apparently, Cinemarati will cease to exist in a few days, and that’s a shame. The one thing I’ll miss most about Cinemarati is that this group of bloggers managed to provide a forum for the female voice. While most film bloggers couldn’t care less about the sad state of women in Hollywood, Cinemarati would consistently bring up this and related issues. So, I’d like to thank this group of fine individuals (film critics, bloggers, journalists, and movie experts) for providing an alternative to the superficial offerings of the mainstream media. I guess all good things must come to an end. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Long Live Japanese Beauty

Hey, Marius, I heard you watched the 56th annual Miss Universe Pageant on Monday. Were the ethnic festivities to your liking? Oh, and one more thing, if you wanna make it right? Then when you go to Nationals... bring it.

Yes, Gabrielle Union, I really enjoyed the 2007 Miss Universe pageant. Of course, I love pageants. Thanks for asking. Also, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Nationals? Hm, you must have me confused with Kirsten Dunst.

Anyway, I think what the lovely Ms. Union was trying to say is: it sucked to be a white woman in the Miss Universe Pageant this year. That is, delegates of (mostly) European descent, if you don’t count some of the Hispanic women, didn’t do so well this year. Problems started when Miss Sweden decided to drop out of the competition. This was a big blow for Europe, as Sweden was a pageant powerhouse for many years, winning the MU crown on three occasions. And although Sweden is no longer the pageant powerhouse that it was back in the day, Swedish delegates always seem to perform well at the Miss Universe Pageant.



At the outset, four European women made it to the top 15. The show started with the swimsuit presentation, and Tjasa Kokalj, Miss Slovenia, lead the way. Lucie Hadasova, Miss Czech Republic; Zaklina Sojic, Miss Denmark; and Lyudmilla Bikmullina, Miss Ukraine were the remaining three. Unfortunately, all 4 of these delegates, as well as Farung Yuthithum, Miss Thailand, failed to move on to the next round—the top 10.





This year was full of surprises. In fact, only four Latin delegates made it to the top 15. Fortunately, all of them also placed in the top 10. They were Natalia Guimaraes (Brazil), Ly Jonaitis (Venezuela), Rosa Maria Ojeda (Mexico), and Xiomara Blandino (Nicaragua). Of these four delegates, Brazil and Venezuela were clearly the judges’ favorites. Asia was well represented by Riyo Mori (Japan), Honey Lee (Korea), Puja Gupta (India), and Farung Yuthithum (Thailand), who was the only delegate who didn’t place in the top 10. Rachel Smith (USA) looked amazing and easily advanced to the top 10 group. Africa was represented by two amazing delegates—Flaviana Matata (Tanzania) and Micaela Reis (Angola). The judges loved these African beauties and they made it to the top 10.



Brazil looked sensational in her swimsuit, and the judges awarded her the second highest score. Interestingly, she reminded me a lot of Rafeala Zanella, last year’s Miss Brazil. Rafeala made it to the top 15, but didn’t impress the judges. Although Natalia looked a little like Rafeala, she was clearly a stronger delegate. She’s more sensual and has a body to die for.



However, the judges awarded the highest score to Japan’s Riyo Mori. Riyo isn’t as curvaceous as Natalia, but her thinner body was well proportioned and almost flawless. She narrowly defeated Natalia by delivering a phenomenal catwalk performance. This dancer turned beauty queen sure knows how to work it.



The one thing that really bugged me was that the judges were just all over the place with their scores. They disliked delegates who, on the surface, seemed very similar to other delegates they seemed to like a lot. For example, they weren’t crazy about Thailand, but they sure did love Korea. The judges also had some unusual preferences. They weren’t too crazy about Mexico or India, but they did love Tanzania, who had obvious flaws that the judges seemed to overlook. Mexico performed much better than Tanzania, but the judges consistently gave Mexico lower scores.

The evening gown presentation is my favorite part of the night. Mexico picked a red gown that showed off her fantastic body. She simply had an unconventional beauty that doesn’t sit well with judges. I’m not surprised she didn’t make it to the top 5. Unlike Mexico, Angola had a fighting chance. She looked lovely, and she delivered a solid performance. However, the judges weren’t as impressed as I was.


Miss USA looked radiant in her black gown, a better choice than the gown she wore for the Miss USA pageant. Unfortunately, that special moment was cut short when she slipped and fell on her tush. My heart almost stopped. I was worried that that would decrease her chances of placing in the top 5. It didn’t! She recovered nicely and managed to place in the top 5 by the skin of her teeth.



I wasn’t surprised that Korea and Venezuela made it to the next round (top 5). Interestingly, Korea reminded me of Laura Elizondo, Miss Mexico 2004. Both women seemed unstoppable at first. They could do no wrong. The judges just loved them. To be honest, Korea’s hip-to-waist ratio just seemed off the mark. I thought this flaw would keep her from advancing to the top 5. However, the judges were just hypnotized by her beauty. Yes, much like Laura before her, Honey’s striking beauty was her ticket to the top 5. Venezuela delivered a strong performance; no surprise there. I wasn’t crazy about her gown, but she looked fabulous. The judges also gave her one of the highest scores and she made it to the top 5.



Riyo (Japan) wore a lovely Gucci gown. The judges gave her a somewhat lower score, but she delivered another great performance. Her confidence set her apart from the other delegate. She just has such a commanding presence. She placed in the top 5 and proved, once again, that Japan is slowly but surely becoming a pageant powerhouse.



But the star in evening gown was without a doubt Brazil. Natalia was perfection. She looked gorgeous—just the right amount of sensuality, beauty, and glamour. Although she lacked Japan’s aggression, she delivered a performance that was flirtatious and effective. She earned the highest score in the evening gown competition.



The final five—Venezuela, Korea, Brazil, USA, and Japan—all deserved to be in the top 5. I was disappointed with last year’s top 5. And this year, I think Angola should have been given a shot, but, I guess she just didn’t wow the judges enough. USA was asked a fair question and she delivered a good answer. However, she clearly wasn’t one of the judges’ favorites. She ended the evening as 4th runner-up. I had predicted that she would dominate the pageant, like she did a few months ago in the Miss USA pageant. I was wrong. Korea was asked a silly final question, and I’m sure that hurt her chances of winning the crown. However, I was expecting more from Honey. I was disappointed. The judges awarded her the 3rd runner-up position. Interestingly, Laura Elizondo was also the 3rd-runner up in 04. Venezuela delivered a strong performance throughout. Her final question was reasonable and her answer was good. However, Venezuela usually sends delegates that are well prepared and kind of superficial. Ly had pageant pattie written all over her face, and I’m sure that hurt her chances of winning the crown. She ended the evening as 2nd runner-up. Brazil really did an exceptional job this year. She answered her question without any hesitation. It just didn’t seem possible for any of the other delegates to top her final answer. Well, it was possible and it happened. The moment Riyo opened her mouth it became clear that she wasn’t going down without a fight. Like Natalia, Riyo answered her question without flinching. However, she answered her question with a confidence that impressed the audience and, more importantly, the judges. She was also quite unconventional, a personality trait that earned Kurara Chibana, last year’s Miss Japan, the first runner-up position. Well, Riyo managed to win over the judges and she became the second Japanese woman in history to win the Miss Universe crown.



Some bloggers and pageant aficionados have made some very negative comments about Riyo. They’ve said that she didn’t deserve the crown, while others believe that Kurara was more deserving. And, of course, many were not pleased that Brazil’s textbook performance was not rewarded by the judges. Clearly, Brazil did everything right. She was flawless. However, I think Riyo deserved the crown. She wasn’t my favorite delegate, but her unconventional performance and impressive confidence won me over. There are plenty of pageant patties in the world of beauty pageants. That's for sure. What we need is more women like Riyo who have beauty, brains, and real personality.

Miss Universe 2007: Riyo Mori

Well, the Miss Universe pageant officially ended about an hour ago and I'm still here scratching my head. The judges were all over the place this year, which was a good thing, really. It kept everyone one their toes.



Although I had issues with Riyo Mori, Miss Japan 2007, she made it to the top 5 and impressed the judges (and me, too) enough to win the crown. So, congratulations Riyo. Also, I'll post a recap of the final some time within the next few days.

Workout #7: Boys Will Be Boys

My goodness, there’s so much to blog about. A lot of stuff happened. I guess I’ll start by writing about the boys. Yes, in this episode of Workout, the producers did everything in their power to appeal to their gay male viewers. I love Bravo!

I’ll start by discussing Brian Peeler. I’m not going to lie; I like Southern men, and this hottie from North Carolina gets me all worked up. Of course, no one’s perfect. Peeler’s arrogance seems to rub people the wrong way.



In this episode, Jackie decided to take a few days off to visit her mom (more on that later!) and she left Brian in charge of the gym. I know what you’re thinking. Is this woman crazy? Maybe she is. Anyway, Brian appeared happier than Anderson Cooper at a Scissor Sister’s concert. It was cute and annoying, all at the same time.



Brian immediately changed his behavior—as do most men who are given some degree of power; he spent most of his time walking around the gym trying to look important (or sleeping in Jackie’s office). The women were a little taken aback by Jackie’s decision to leave him in charge. I loved Erika’s reaction to Peeler’s sudden change in behavior:

“Are you bored? And why are you lurking all over the gym?”

Good one, Erika! Good one! Surprisingly, Rebecca also delivered a few great lines. She said,

“if I had a bad child, I’d put them in charge a lot because something about being in charge makes you rise to the occasion. And you’re not as acting out . . . it’s like reverse psychology.”

Rebecca gets extra points for using her noggin, which is always a good thing.



Now, on to Jesse. He’s becoming one of my favorite trainers, and he never disappoints. In this episode, he was introduced to a client who happened to be a male “model.” Jesse was more than happy to take on this client, and he added a new title to his growing list of titles and accolades. In addition to being the Lesbian Whisperer, he is now the Cardio King. This guy kills me!



So, his client eventually showed up wearing a tight black muscle shirt with the word COLT printed across the chest area. I couldn’t stop laughing when Jesse asked him what that meant. Oh, Jesse, you’re not fooling anyone. You know good and well what that stands for.



His new client explained that COLT was a studio that specializes in erotic entertainment (for gay men). And a few minutes after explaining this, he decided to take off his shirt. Jesse looked a little flustered, and his client noticed. That whole segment looked like something straight out of a COLT “film.” I loved when Jesse asked him for some photos.

After their hot workout, the guys had coffee at a nearby coffee shop. The “model” switched from porn stud mode to serious (gay man on a mission) mode. He talked about the difficulties gay men and lesbians face in the military. Jesse admitted that he had no clue what it was like to be in that kind of situation. And I think it’s great that this guy used his 15 minutes to talk about an issue that’s affecting many people in our community. I think it’s safe to assume he’s not a Republican, and thank goodness because I was starting to worry that all gay porn stars support the Republican Party. Thanks a lot Matt Sanchez.



The last few minutes of the show were really emotional. The group reacted to the sad news that one of their own, Doug, was not recovering from his illness; he was actually getting worse. All hope seemed lost; and we all know that there's no happy ending. I was really touched by Brian’s reaction. You could tell that he cherished his relationship with Doug. And I think it shows great character when a (straight) man let’s his guard down like that. He cried. Some may say that crying is a sign of weakness. My grandfather used to say that men don’t cry. Well, I think he and others who believe that are wrong. Sometimes we need to cry. It’s an often misunderstood part of our emotional repertoire. Extreme sadness and helplessness can be detrimental to our well being, but crying serves an important function. It’s a normal reaction to sad news. It’s part of our coping strategy. And it’s a beautiful thing. As I watched the trainers react to the sad news, their tears made one thing very clear: Doug Blasdell was a great human being, and he we will be missed.

Bollywood Goddess: Aishwarya Rai

By now most of you have probably heard that Aishwarya Rai, Miss World 1994, married fellow Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan a few days ago. She is currently a model for Loreal cosmetics. Aishwarya has been called the most beautiful woman in the world. That’s a very bold statement, but I think many people would agree with it. She is admired and adored by millions. India has proven time and again that they are a powerhouse in the pageant world, and Aishwarya is arguably the most successful Indian delegate of all time.

She is one of my favorite beauty queens—intelligent, beautiful, and modest. I wish Aishwarya and her husband the very best.

What Makes a Winner?

A few weeks ago, Japanese figure skater Miki Ando won Gold at the World Figure Skating Championships. The defending world champion, American Kimmie Meissner, finished a disappointing fourth. The amazing Sasha Cohen was noticeably absent.



Expectations were high for Sasha last year at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. She was the favorite, but she faced some tough competition from Irinia Slutskaya, a very talented Russian skater. I saw Sasha perform for the first time in 2001. She took my breath away. She skated with such elegance and maturity that seemed to belie her young age.



Throughout the years leading up to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Sasha blossomed into a phenomenal skater. She started 2006 with a bang by winning gold at the State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships.



Many, including me, thought she was unstoppable. However, she was vulnerable. Commentators kept on referring to Sasha’s inconsistent record. There were times when she just couldn’t deliver.

Sasha, like Michelle Kwan before her, left Torino without the gold medal. It’s not clear whether Sasha will compete in the next Olympic Winter Games (in 2010?). That would make me very happy, but I guess we’ll have to wait to find out.



Most of us have experienced defeat at one time or another; it’s an unavoidable part of life. Usually, a friend or relative will utter the all too common phrase “winning isn’t everything.” Those words are comforting. In our culture, receiving the top prize or a perfect score is highly desirable. And some people are driven by a need to be number one; some will do whatever it takes to achieve this, irrespective of the costs. In a perfect world, the best person comes out on top. At the outset of a competition, we often hear people say, “may the best man win.” That doesn’t always occur. Lady luck was not on Sasha’s side that day in Torino. Her athletic ability betrayed her, and that was her downfall.

Although Sasha didn’t win the gold, she did walk away with silver and a great short program skate. I remember sitting at the edge of my seat during her short program. What a spiral sequence, her signature move. What grace. She was spectacular. At the end of her performance, Dick Button was exuberant. It was such a great feeling watching her deliver a magnificent performance. She may not have won the gold medal, but she did win the respect and admiration of her peers and many viewers. Fortunately, most of us have experienced great moments of success. We may not always win some fancy trophy or pretentious title, but we often take for granted those other days—when we earn someone’s admiration, affection, or respect. And isn’t that really what winning is all about?

Fun with TV: Ugly Betty and the Cuchi, Cuchi

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it appears that Salma and America had a terrible fight on the set of Ugly Betty. Salma went crazy and started firing people left and right. Bad move, but Salma is one smart cookie. She managed to find replacements. Betty White will play Ugly Betty; Erik Estrada will play Betty’s father; and Charo will play Betty’s sassy sister.



Ok, that’s not really true. I just needed some fictitious story to go along with this picture. The real story isn’t quite as scandalous. In reality, Charo, Erik, and Betty were invited to participate in a small skit for the 2007 TV Land Awards. Oh, but I would love to see Charo on Ugly Betty. You can’t go wrong with the cuchi, cuchi.

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

“Out” magazine has ranked the top 50 most powerful gay men and women in America. And guess who’s on the list? Yep, it’s Anderson Cooper. As far as I know, Cooper hasn’t officially declared (or acknowledged) that he’s gay. I can just imagine the look on his face when he sees this magazine cover. He’ll probably turn to his partner, lover, trick, or whatever, and say, “why won’t the gay media just leave me alone? I hate those bitches!” Anderson, I’m sure it must be hard being hounded by the likes of Michael Musto. But you’re attractive, wealthy, and famous. Deal with it!

Here’s “Out” Magazine’s Top 10:

1. David Geffen
2. Anderson Cooper
3. Ellen DeGeneres
4. Tim Gill
5. Barney Frank
6. Rosie O’Donnell
7. The New York Times Gay Mafia: Richard Berke, Ben Brantley, Frank Bruni, Stuart Elliott, Adam Nagourney, Stefano Tonchi, and Eric Wilson
8. Marc Jacobs
9. Andrew Tobias
10. Brian Graden
(17) Perez Hilton
(23) Tom Ford

By the way, I’m a little shocked that Perez Hilton was ranked higher than my beloved Tom Ford. Who exactly created this list?

Grindhouse and the Cheating Pecker

I’m really looking forward to the new Tarantino-Rodriguez double feature Grindhouse. I’m not sure if I can handle all the gore. It’s not usually a problem for me, but something tells me this film is going to really push the limits of goriness. Eli Roth contributed a faux trailer (more blood and guts). I’ve seen it, and there’s no question that Eli is one sick puppy. I actually think he’s kind of hot. Rose McGowan and Rosario Dawson both star in this potentially awesome project. I hope Grindhouse lives up to the hype.

There’s something that’s been bugging me for the past few weeks. First, let me just say that I like Rose McGowan. She’s edgy and unconventional, which is great. Good for her. Now, on to the bad; Rose is a home wrecker. Yep, she had an affair with Robert Rodriguez, a man who has been married for over 15 years. Oh, he also has five children. It gets worse. Some have reported that Robert was screwing Rose in his trailer, while his wife was on the set. She’s a co-producer on Gindhouse, and she has produced most of his films to date. There’s probably more to the story, but everything I’ve read seems to suggest that he cheated on his wife, plain and simple.

Hm, I wonder if Paulette Bonafonte has any words of wisdom for Mrs. Rodriguez?


"He's a guy who followed his pecker to greener pasture. Sure, you’re a successful movie producer, but you’re middle aged (with stretch marks) and you have a fat ass."

Paulette’s interpretation of the situation may seem right, but it’s not! I don’t think he followed his pecker to greener pasture. He made a stupid mistake. He threw away over 15 years of companionship for a brief (and meaningless) fling. Honestly, I doubt he and Rose are going to live happily ever after. She’ll probably move on to the next producer, actor, or whatever (maybe another shock rocker). I guess that’s life.

Mr. World 2007 (Update)

It appears that Juan Garcia, Mr. Spain, is no longer a favorite among bloggers and pageant aficionados. He was a favorite at one time, but many are losing interest in this hot Spaniard. I, on the other hand, think he’s great and wish him the best of luck.


Mr. Spain

Judging by comments on message boards and pageant blogs, Lucas Gil, Mr. Brazil, is still a strong contender. His biggest advantage is that he’s Brazilian. Seriously, I’m starting to think that contestants get extra points just for being Brazilian. However, most of his supporters are Latin women. It’ll be interesting to see if he can win over the judges. I have faith that he will.


Mr. Brazil

Some have suggested that Warren Harvey, Mr. England, has a shot at the title. He doesn’t really do it for me, but some people really like him.


Mr. England



Ok, I can see why people like him. Seeing him without a shirt does change one’s perspective. Yes, he has a very nice body, but, then again, so do many others. We’ll see if Warren has what it takes.

Harley Von Moger, Mr. Australia, is another young man who’s been getting a lot of attention lately.


Mr. Australia



Can Harley repeat what Jennifer Hawkins did at the Miss Universe pageant? I have my doubts, but I’m sure he’ll try his very best to win another international title for Australia. Good luck, mate.

Several bloggers and pageant aficionados have been talking about David Camenzuli, Mr Malta. At the outset, this beautiful man (from a small country) didn’t get as much media attention as some of his peers. In fact, I only mentioned him briefly in a previous post.


Mr. Malta



Now, the tables have turned. Mr. Malta won the fitness challenge, and everyone seems to think he has a shot at the title. I think they may be right. He has the looks of a male supermodel and a great (natural) body. He's also very photogenic. Let’s hope he does well on the big night.

I conclude this post with a few pictures of the contestants competing in one of the fitness challenges. These boys sure look like they’re having fun. Ah, to be an attractive man in the fascinating world of pageants.

Visit http://www.jurorno12.blogspot.com/ for more pics and updates.

Miss USA 2007: Rachel Smith

Rachel Smith, the delegate from Tennessee, was crowned Miss USA 2007 a few hours ago. The favorite, Ashley Zais of South Carolina, failed to make it to the top 10. I have mixed feelings about this year’s pageant. For example, Helen Salas, Miss Nevada, did not deserve to be in the top 5. I think Lauren Bernette, Miss Virginia, should have done better; she’s a stunning beauty.



Rachel clearly deserved the title; she dominated the pageant from start to finish. She has a smashing body and the girl knows how to work it.



Tara Conner looked lovely (and sober) in her red gown; she's pictured below. She thanked Donald Trump on more than one occasion, which was kind of irritating. Tara, Donald is an ass. I’m sorry, but I hope Donald sells the Miss Universe Organization some time soon. I can’t stand him.



It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Rachel; the judges also seemed to like Danielle Lacourse, Miss Rhode Island. Both women are pictured below.



Rachel’s final answer was not impressive. She was asked, “if you could be a famous man, who would you be and why?” She replied, “Will Smith.” Ok, that was a lame answer, but the judges still gave her the crown. She was confident and poised—a real beauty queen. I think she will be a hit at the Miss Universe pageant.



By the way, one of the judges was Jonathan Antin. Yeah, that made me very happy.

Casting for Project Runway 4 Starts Next Week

Casting for Season 4 of our beloved “Project Runway” starts a week from today in Miami and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, April 7th in the big apple. How exciting! The application is so long, which isn’t surprising. I just can’t imagine someone like Santino having the patience to actually read the whole thing. He probably didn’t. All selected participants must undergo a psychological and physical examination. I wonder if the producers intentionally select people who are unstable. Does anyone remember Guadalupe Vidal? The poor girl left Tim Gunn speechless. Actually, I thought it was cute that she had something positive to say about Johnny Cash. That’s a very cool thing, but I have no idea what she was talking about.

Running with Coconuts

Mr. World 2007 is well underway in Sanya, China. It’s similar to Miss World. The men must first compete in various preliminary competitions to win a spot in the final. The first competition is the Sports Challenge. This task will test the men’s strength, stamina and determination. According to the Mr. World website, this challenge is designed to separate the boys from the men. I like the sound of that. Congratulations to David Camenzuli, Mr. Malta, for winning this very difficult challenge.



According to the website, David is a professional footballer. So it comes as no surprise that he is in excellent shape. In addition to being a great individual athlete, he managed to play well with others. The men had to participate in various team events like tug of war. And David was a great team player.



There were other individual and team events, but my favorite one is the Coconut run. Yes, the contestants had to dash from one side of the beach to the other with coconuts. Below is a picture of Mr. Dominican Republic showing us all how it’s done. By the look on his face, running with coconuts is no easy task.

February 2007: A Great Month for Tabloids

Beauty Queens Gone Wild

On Project Runway Season 3,one of the challenges (episode #2) was to design an evening gown for Tara Conner, Miss USA 2006. I remember how excited Kayne was about making a pageant gown for Tara! Very cute! As expected, the judges picked his design. The most entertaining part was watching Vincent and Angela quarrel like children. Anyway, Tara wore Kayne’s gown in the 55th Annual Miss Universe Pageant and ended the evening as 4th runner-up. I had issues with that, but whatever. The judges liked her. Good for her.



After the Miss Universe pageant, Tara’s perfect little world was rocked by scandal. She was almost stripped of her crown, but Donald Trump, being the fair man that he is, decided to give her a second chance. His decision started one of the silliest feuds in Television history. Rosie mocked Donald on The View; Donald fired back by calling her a disgusting slob; and Anderson Cooper was speechless. By the way, I support Rosie on this all the way. Sit and spin, Donald. Sit and Spin.



One would think that Tara is the worst Beauty Queen ever. However, she faces some tough competition for that title from Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996. Let’s compare these two lovely ladies and settle this matter once and for all.

Tara Conner, Miss USA 2006

Charges:

• Underage drinking and cocaine use. Yep, Tara was 20 years old when she was busted for drinking alcohol. She admitted to Matt Lauer that she had a substance abuse problem.
• Inappropriate behavior at nightclubs and in bedrooms throughout NYC. She had a lot of sex with a lot of guys. Let’s just say her behavior made Paris Hilton look like an amateur.
• Corruption of a fellow minor. Apparently, Tara was spotted partying with Katie Blair, Miss Teen USA 2006. The girls were apparently spotted making out, drinking, and doing other naughty things.
  
  Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996
  
  Charges:
• Pissing off the Donald. Alicia’s problems started after she won the Miss Universe title in 1996. She told reporters that she didn't plan on following any diet after winning the MU crown. So, she started eating and eating and eating. You get the point. Forty pounds later, the Donald threatened to dethrone her. She agreed to workout and lose the weight.
• Arrogant and insensitive. Some have reported that Alicia was one of the least popular Beauty Queens of Venezuela. She’s pissed off a lot of people. For example, she insulted a fellow contestant on a popular reality show in Mexico. She was later forced to issue a public apology.
• Promiscuous. Alicia likes sex even more than Tara. She was filmed having sex with a fellow housemate in the Spanish reality show “La Granja”. I think the show is similar to "Big Brother". She was engaged to a famous Venezuelan baseball player at the time. He broke off their engagement as soon as he found out. Alicia also became the first Miss Universe to pose nude for Playboy, a decision that stirred up some controversy in Latin America.

I've always had issues with Alicia Machado. However, I always try to be as objective as possible. Back in the day, she was a fabulous pageant patty, and I acknowledge that she deserved the title of Miss Universe. I think Tara is a misguided girl who needs to grow up. I feel for her, but I hope she learns from this experience.

Good luck, Proenza Schouler

On Monday, the Council of Fashion Designers of America announced that Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough, the boys of Proenza Schouler, were nominated for the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. They will compete with Oscar De La Renta and Marc Jacobs for the title. Good luck, boys. The winner will be announced at the 25th Annual Fashion Awards on June 4th. Click here for list of awards and nominees.

Lazaro Hernandez, Chloë Sevigny, & Jack McCollough

These talented young men have quite a story to tell. They met at Parson’s Design School in the late 90’s, worked on a thesis project together, and ended up creating a great collection that was a hit among the New York City Fashion community. The rest is history. Many people don’t know that in addition to being creative (and business) partners, they were romantically involved early in their careers. I’m not sure if they’re still together. There were reports that they cheated on each other and their relationship fell apart. As they say, boys (gay or straight) will be boys. I’m glad they’ve managed to work together all these years. I really like Lazaro; he’s such a cutie. Of course, I have a thing for Latin men. Don’t worry, Jack. I like you, too.

Let's Celebrate! It's Pi Day!

Happy Pi Day!

I love Kuno Becker

Kuno Becker

I was thrilled when I found out that Mexican actor Kuno Becker is participating in a GAP AD campaign for 2007. He’s one of my favorite young Mexican actors. No one can play a spoiled, rich Mexican like Kuno (see clip below).



Kuno isn’t the only hottie working for Gap Inc. these days. Chris O’donnell and Wentworth Miller are also participating.






Sex sells!

Mr. World 2007: Hotness on a global scale

Juan Garcia Postigo, Mr. Spain 2007

The Mr. World competition is just a few days away and pageant sites all over the world wide web are going crazy over the 63 hunks who are vying for the title of Mr. World. My pick is Juan Garcia Postigo. Of course, I love Spanish men; it wasn't a hard decision. My second pick is Lucas Gil from Brazil. He's the prototypical South American hunk.

Lucas Gil, Mr. Brazil 2007

I wish all the contestants the best of luck, and as they say, may the best man win. Below are pictures of some of the other very attractive contestants.

Diego Cedeno, Mr. Panama 2007
Diego is a real class act from Central America. He's apparently doing very well as a model in Europe.

Roman Demchenko, Mr. Russia 2007.
Roman is one of the hottest European contestants. He reminds me of James Dean.

Anthony Hakim, Mr. Lebanon 2007
Anthony gets extra points for being one of the hairiest contestants.

Mark Wilke, Mr. Germany 2007
Mark is a fine representative of the Northern European male!

David Camenzuli, Mr. Malta 2007
I love this picture. David is a beautiful man.

Johaney Albor, Mr. Dominican Republic 2007
Is he Venezuelan or Dominican? That's the question. Well, he was born in Venezuela and lived there for many years, but his parents are originally from DR. You decide.

Carlo Martellini, Mr. Italy 2007
I've always loved Mediterranean men.

Jorge Aceves, Mr. Mexico 2007
Jorge is cute, but I doubt he'll make much of an impression on the judges. Let's hope I'm wrong. He kind of looks like Gabriel Soto, Mr. Mexico 1996.

Gjorgi Filipov, Mr. Macedonia FYRO
This man is hot. He doesn't seem to be one of the favorites, but I hope he does well.

Where have all the Anglo-Canadians gone?

Inga Skaya, Miss Canada 2007

When it comes to beauty pageants, Canada and Italy seem to be on opposite sides of the spectrum. Please let me explain. Canada loves to send non-Canadian delegates to international beauty pageants, and in 2005, that strategy paid off—Russian born Natalia Glebova was crowned Miss Universe. I saw the pageant and remember being surprised that Natalia spoke English with a Russian accent. In my opinion, she won the MU title for Russia. Anyway, a few days ago, another Russian woman, Inga Skaya, won the Miss Canada crown. Where have all the Anglo-Canadians gone? Actually, it’s great that judges and officials of the “Beauties of Canada” Association welcome immigrants with open arms, especially if those immigrants happen to be gorgeous Russian women.


Natalia Glebova, Miss Universe 2005

Italy is a different story. In 1997, a lovely Black woman named Denny Mendez won the Miss Italy title. Well, some people weren’t too thrilled, and a few judges even protested Denny’s success. “She's not Mediterranean,” said one of the judges. Fortunately, she was allowed to represent Italy at the MU pageant and she did a great job. I should also point out that most Italians supported Denny. Way to go Italia!


Denny Mendez, Miss Italy 1997

Old News: Christian Chavez is gay (and married)

Christian Chavez, member of RBD, a Mexican pop group, was forced out of the closet when pictures of his marriage to a man were posted on Latin Gossip . And shortly thereafter, he acknowledged on the group’s website that he is gay. Honestly, this wasn’t surprising—you can tell he’s gay just by looking at him (check out his picture above). What is surprising is that he wasn’t more careful. Will this have a negative impact on RBD’s continued success? Only time will tell. Apparently, the Mexican Catholic Church isn’t too happy with Christian’s actions. I, on the other hand, am very pleased that Christian decided to come out. This is a big step forward for gays in the Mexican entertainment industry. I wonder what Juan Gabriel has to say about all of this.

My take on the 79th Annual Academy Awards

Cate Blanchett was the best dressed woman of the evening.

Reese Withersppon looked stunning.

Ellen DeGeneres did a good job hosting the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Everything appeared to go smoothly, but nothing really exciting happened. There were, however, a few surprises.

I was disappointed that Pan’s Labyrinth didn’t win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. The honor went to Germany’s The Lives of Others. Pan’s was the front-runner and most critically praised film of all 5 nominees, but that wasn’t enough for the Mexican/Spanish film. Riding on a cloud of critical praise was enough for Jennifer Hudson, Helen Mirren, and Forest Whitaker. Martin Scorsese finally got his Best Director Oscar. Did he really deserve it for this particular film (The Departed)? Who knows! In all fairness to Scorsese, The Departed also won for Best Film.

Now, let’s talk about Oscar fashion. This year was a bit boring. Cameron Diaz looked ok, but, honestly, I didn’t like her dress at all. Jennifer Hudson had been looking fabulous up to this point. I blame her designer (Oscar De La Renta?) for making her look silly on such an important night. Fortunately, there were a few standouts. Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow both looked amazing. Cate, in my humble opinion, was the best dressed. She is, without question, a star! Here’s a list of my favorite women:

Best Dressed Stars (the top 3):
1. Cate Blanchett (Gold Star): Cate receives the highest honor—she was the best dressed woman of the night. She looked absolutely radiant. She’s a true star.
2. Gwyneth Paltrow (Silver Star): I’m not Gwyneth’s biggest fan, but I have to admit she looked great. Very elegant. It’s clear why so many consider her a fashion icon.
3. Jessica Biel (Bronze Star): This woman is HOT! That’s all I have to say. Actually, I liked her dress a lot, but it’s her sex appeal that makes her look amazing in anything she wears.

All-Stars:
4. Reese Witherspoon: Simple and sophisticated. Great dress.
5. Jennifer Lopez: This woman knows how to dress herself. I loved the dress.
6. Rachel Weisz: The dress was lovely, and Rachel carries herself so well.
7. Penelope Cruz: Now, I personally think Ms. Cruz looks awkward (at times, she looks like a rodent). However, I have to acknowledge that her dress was gorgeous. Great choice.
8. Kate Winslet: I was surprised at how good she looked. Classy.

Honorable Mention:
9. Diane Keaton: I was shocked at how good Diane looked. She really made my evening because I love her. Diane, thank you for looking wonderful.
10. Nicole Kidman: She looked good, but we’ve seen it before.
11. Maggie Gyllenhaal: Maggie looked so good! She picked a great dress that complimented her body.
12. Eva Green: Sexy, but she needs to do a better job in the hair and makeup department.
13. Beyonce: All I have to say is thank you for not going over the top. She looked lovely.
14. Helen Mirren: She looked like a queen.
15. Queen Latifah: Another woman who carries herself like a queen. She looked great. She knows what works for her. Great choice.

Unattractive girls vs. Delta Zeta Sorority

Attractive women and sororities go hand in hand. It's sad that a few members of a chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority were essentially told to leave because they were not attractive and/or overweight. Here's a link to the New York Times article: Sorority Evictions Raise Issue of Looks and Bias

Racial tensions in TV land

It appears that racism is alive and well in the United Kingdom. Well, that’s what some people are claiming. On the reality show Shipwrecked, one of the contestants declared her support for the return of slavery because, according to her, Black people are “bad.” Then, there’s the biggest scandal of them all—the bullying of Indian actress Shilpa Shetty. She has experienced racism first hand while participating in the fifth season of Celebrity Big Brother UK. Is it racism? I don’t know. It’s unfortunate that some of her housemates despise her. I think some of them are jealous. Shilpa is an attractive Indian woman with a brain, which she uses quite often, and some of her housemates may feel threatened for some unknown reason. Even Tony Blair expressed some concern over Shilpa’s treatment while on the show. Most Brits were appalled by the insensitivity of some of the British celebrities on the show. Shilpa’s biggest rival was a very outspoken woman from Essex, Jade Goody, who was evicted from the house last week. Below is a clip of Shilpa dealing with her housemates. Thank goodness she can always turn to Jermaine Jackson for moral support.



It’s hard to tell what really went on during the filming of CBB UK. I think their behavior clearly shows that they are racially and culturally insensitive. However, we must not forget that there are a lot of people around the world who don’t know the first thing about people who aren’t like them. I actually like the fact that Jade says what’s on her mind. She’s an open book. So, are Jade and her band of drunken thieves racist? I don’t think so. However, they should take lessons on how to treat others with dignity and respect. I find it interesting that Sacha Baron Cohen spent so much time in the states mingling with racially insensitive Americans when he could have been doing the same thing at home.

And the winner is . . . Pan's Labyrinth

I loved Guillermo Del Toro's 2001 film "The Devil's Backbone." It's a shame the film wasn't considered for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Film category that year. Well, Del Toro's time has come. His new film, "Pan's Labyrinth," will probably get nominated for Best Foreign film by Academy voters. Nominations should be announced next week. Everyone seems to love this movie. In fact, "Pan's Labyrinth" was chosen as best film of the year by the National Society of Film Critics. Impressive! I eagerly await the opportunity to enjoy Del Toro's latest offering.

The Young and Restless

Many cities are competing for us, college-educated 24- to 34-year olds. We are, according to some, the young and restless. The cities that seem to be attracting this key demographic group are Atlanta, San Francisco, Denver, Portland, and Austin. I’m kind of surprised Seattle isn’t on the list. I think I'll end up somewhere in the West Coast. For now, I'm enjoying life in Florida.

New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/25/us/25young.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&th&emc=th

Here's some data:
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2006/11/24/us/25young_graphic.html